Image via the awesome Age

As Noah said (and the copy above suggests), it’s pretty simple. Be able to get in (for free), afford drinks, and find an open cab at the end of the night in New York City. It’s the New Year’s Eve-Eve Party without promoters’ names on the top of post-sized cards in Helvetica font…much to the dismay of Eric. I’ll be there, and so will these two clowns.

I know this is making the rounds through some other NY agencies right now, but in case you haven’t seen it, it will make your Wednesday morning. I initially thought this and the Shiba Inu puppy cams popularity must be an attempt to escape our economic realities (addicted to cute); however, Capuchine has been going strong for two years.

Once upon a time… from Capucha on Vimeo.

Just so you know, I can’t wait for next October. My birthday party will be old school, let’s go to the movies to see Where The Wild Things Are?

Bill Hicks on Marketing via Stuart Smith email – not to be confused with Gil Hicks of Mallrats fame who kisses like a jackhammer in with some pressure and when he’s done you’re not the same…you’re changed.

Geek pants via @gaeyia

And lastly, I saw this on the news last night and Jake reminded me about it today. It’s not funny…except for the part when the boy says his punishment should be a weekend without video games.

The publication of its Passover haggadah by the Joseph Jacobs Advertising Agency beginning in 1934 made Maxwell House a household name with many American Jewish families. This was a clever marketing strategy by owner Joseph Jacobs, who hired an Orthodox rabbi to certify that the coffee bean was technically more like a berry than a bean and, consequently, kosher for Passover. Maxwell House coffee was the first to target a Jewish demographic, and the haggadah continues to represent a synthesis of American and Jewish interests.

After gorging ourselves, we went back to the living room and relaxed—this time to something other than Pope TV—and brainstormed the big evening event. Predictably, we found our way to Fandango, picked Forgetting Sarah Marshall, went and didn’t regret our decision for a minute. Heavy Recommend for my weight at the time and level of enjoyment. That’s all I’m going to say. I don’t want to spoil any amazing scenes, cameos or one-liners. Go see it.

One of the other benefits of going home—besides eating like a king, suburban running, getting out of the city and generally spending qt with the fam—is picking up some new reco’s and ideas from each of them. (Hence, the “As Discovered” rather than “As Seen” post title.)

1. How I Met Your Mother (Sis reco): I’m sure many of you are reading this and wondering how it is possible I’m only catching onto this in its third season. I’m sure others are thinking I jock (yeah, I was back on Long Island) Jason Segel. Hopefully there are a few of you whom are looking for a sitcom to get into and I just tipped to view. Because it’s fantastically current and insightful. Who doesn’t love NPH. (No, that wasn’t a question.) Especially since he now blogs Doogie-style. Who doesn’t love a good Canadian viral success like Robin Sparkles. (New video features the Beek from Dawson’s Creek.) I want your life!

2. Cash Cab (Dad reco): I only saw a couple episodes of Cash Cab: After Dark (where the prizes are greater because it is later), but was sold. All the talk of surprise and delight recently, this is a show that delivers (even if some of the cab-goers are pre-screened). A general knowledge trivia show that starts the second you get in the cab and ends when you reach your destination (unless you get three strikes and the boot out in NYC) with a host, Ben Bailey, who as a comedian has the perfect sense of humor for it.

3. Limoliner (Mom reco): It’s a 28-passenger silver shuttle that goes to and from the Hilton NY and Hilton Boston with business-friendly wi-fi, outlets, news TV channels in headrest and reclining leather seats as well as complimentary snacks. Though none of us have actually taken this service yet, I may give it a shot on Thursday as I head to ROFLcon. Who’s coming with me?

Thankfully I know what I won’t have to do and that is answer any calls from the office asking where I am!

ADDENDUM: Here’s the Google homepage image on MLK Jr. Day 2008.

Well in that case, I’ll just start off with the yearly Gen GuY resolution:
And speaking of resolutions, maybe you’ll be inspired by one of the celebrity resolutions on Funny or Die (which is a site to which I’m becoming addicted – wow, that’s a lot of which). Look for a video from FoD (that’s what the cool kids call it) in tomorrow’s IOI.

Feliz Ano Nuevo.

At the suggestion of Amit Gupta (founder of Jelly and Photojojo), I attended my first coworking session. For those not in the know, coworking blends the appeal of an independent environment with the benefits of a traditional office by offering a space for people to work in the company of others. I won’t get into the definition too much, just my experience. Here is the space:
Yes, I was the first one there at 9:30AM. The host was not even awake. I felt a lot less cool than I did entering the Chambers Street apt in my t-shirt from Buenos Aires, jeans, and high-top vans at 9:20.

Either way, by 10:45 or so it was packed. About 12 people, all with their laptops. And as suspected all of their laptops, Macs. I had never met any of them, but I did know a little bit about ‘em. The beauty and fluidity of the Jelly NYC Wiki, which is the place where we all signed up for the Jelly session. Here is the wiki:
Yup, there really was a dude named Patrick Ewing and he had a sick keyboard technique. But seriously, overall it went down like this. Everyone introduced themselves as new peeps entered the apartment. We worked in relative silence for the most part – some indie rock played softly in the background – but every once in a while people would get up move around and show some of their work to each other. I commented on a few sites’ usability, functions, and content and started to flesh out an idea I had for one of my clients (a hotel):

To host coworking sessions. Yes, that simple. To provide an area/open an existing area to this community. This “work together” confirmed that Jelly may become a victim of its own success. It was pretty packed even in the sizable Financial District apt., so a little more space would not only be appreciated but soon necessary. All it needs to provide is a comfortable space and Wi-Fi access. This hotel had the space (in fact it had a newly created space in its lobbies that was supposed to enable the same type of interaction). It could go above and beyond by offering free coffee and snacks, which is an expenditure it would likely recoup in people buying more substantial breakfasts or lunches. Regardless, it would do three things: (1) Build good energy in the hotel, (2) Build goodwill with entrepreneurs and creative types (which would hopefully impact future stays), and (3) Create the Hot Club Effect (which means people aspiring to be like these guys and girls as well as those wanting to meet these thoughtful people would come and stay).

In sum: Jelly, and the like, are really just forums to not feel alone, to bounce ideas off others, to meet interesting people, to inspire and be inspired while working. And really, that’s more than enough. It happens naturally and seamlessly as you can see even from the way that people sign up to attend. It demonstrates the selflessness of the host and the power of the community. It’s what every office that values creativity and collaboration should seek to create.

Other Resources:
Coworking Community Blog
Cream Cheese in Philly

def. To add touches of the Christian holiday to something. Oft-used commercial representations include elves, reindeer, sleighs, poinsettia, snowman, mistletoe and other figures and decorations.

“Let’s Christmafy this print ad and put a Santa hat on the guy’s head!”

And that’s okay for some brands…

Anyway, this is what’s shaking in the off-weeks:
First, Roy Hibbert has decided to return for his senior year at Georgetown. Jeff Green has not. But the Hoyas are going to be a force once again, which means I may have another reason to use miles to get to the Final Four next year. On a related college/pro bball note: Greg Oden wears Jorts. (For the uninitiated, Jorts = jean shorts)
Second, from a newish show on Fuse called The Whitest Kids U’ Know, a dating show a la Mallrats.
Third, if you play pickup basketball regularly or even sporadically (yes, I watched Clueless today), you know some of these cats.
Numero Schick quattro, on the same Clueless tip, you’ve all heard about the Rosie feud – here’s some Silverstone doing some snubbing of her own.
And finally from The Whitest Kids U’ Know (yes, again), a skit about a guy who doesn’t really get slang hand signal.

I rarely fall asleep easily. I can go a day without a significantly creative or unique idea. Quoting Three Amigos in meetings, referencing and relating life experiences MTV’s Next or Gauntlet 2, or lipsyncing The Best of Both Worlds as I run on the treadmill, originality is something that takes a little work or removal from it. Thus, when I get into bed, all those ideas (great and awful) that alluded me during the day, enter my mind like pop-up video. But that’s not really why I’m blogging either.

Basically, I want a place to store my thoughts, ideas, rants and pictures, and I want a means for connection. It’s been about 6 months since I’ve moved to Minneapolis and I want to give people (my friends and family) a taste of my life here. And true to form, I want to make sure they don’t forget me… and if possible, I remain on center stage. In other words, it was easier for the world to revolve around me in NY than MN. (Though the U.S. can revolve around me better here.)

So without further ado, and how fittingly historic and cheesily pun-y for my inaugural blog day, I bring to you my dream… hollisterings of Salvador Walleye.